Reading conferences tend to get lost in the shuffle. When your reading block is too short, your roster too full, and your attention too scattered, squeezing in a short conference can seem impossible.
Still, we know reading conferences are one of the best ways to provide individualized teaching, encourage good reading habits, and remind students that we care about their reading lives.
So while I can’t offer you more time, more attention or a smaller class, I do have a handy freebie to help you eeeeek out a few reading conferences every now and then. Before we get to that though, what is a reading conference?
What is a Reading Conference?
A reading conference is a short one-on-one conversation you have with a student about her reading. You may listen to the student read, help her problem solve, discuss something she struggles with, or discuss reading habits.
What is the Purpose of Reading Conferences?
There are several good reasons to include conferences in your reading workshop routine:
- Individualized Teaching: In a reading conference, all of your attention is focused on one student, and all your expertise are at his disposal. Conferences provide a rare opportunity for you to teach directly to one student.
- Feedback/Assessment: In a reading conference you’re likely to learn what aspects of your instruction are hitting home and which aren’t. The notes you take during conferences can inform future instruction.
- Discuss Reading Habits: Past the first twenty days, you may not do many procedure-focused mini lessons. But some kids need reminders. You can talk about individual reading habits (like abandoning too many books, or forgetting to respond to a reading prompt) during a conference.
- Engagement: How many times do students get a scheduled one-on-one meeting with their teacher? Probably not often. A reading conference is a friendly encounter and your encouragement reminds students that you care about their reading lives.
Am I Supposed to PLAN a Detailed Conference for 20-30 Students?
Wouldn’t that be nice? Planning a detailed conference for each and every student isn’t realistic for most teachers. But this doesn’t mean we give up–there’s plenty of middle ground! Here are some tips for making reading conferences work in the real world:
Real World Reading Conferences
Use a Flexible Template. Flexibility is going to be the name of the game here, which is fine, because conferences lend themselves well to flexibility. Instead of planning a detailed conference for each and every student, you can:
- Use a Prompt Sheet: Place a prompt sheet on a clipboard. Whenever you have a few minutes during workshop, pick up your clipboard, skim your prompt sheet, and make an on-the spot plan as you walk across the room to the student you want to conference with.
- Take Good (but Simple) Notes: On top of your prompt sheet, keep a record sheet. After each conference jot down a few notes. Next time you conference with this student, review your notes. Use a combination of your notes and the prompt sheet to guide your conversation.
You can also update your prompt sheet every now and then. Write down prompts, questions, and comments that align with your instruction, and use this updated prompt sheet for the next grading period. My free reading conferences resource includes a blank template for this purpose.
Use a Flexible Schedule. All-or-nothing thinking will really hurt your reading conference game. Meeting with each student over the course of a grading period (or two) is still better than giving up on conferences altogether. The following method doesn’t promise a certain number of conferences, instead it provides a system for doing conferences as often (or seldom) as you’re able.
- Begin with a Prescribed Order. At first, decide how you’ll meet with each and every student in a prescribed order (maybe alphabetical order). Go through your list until you’ve met with each student at least once.
- Continue conferencing in order, but now allow for need-based interruptions. Continue to cycle through your roster, but now give students priority according to need. So if a student struggled with yesterday’s reading prompt, maybe you meet with her today rather than next week.
- Allow students to sign up for conferences. Once established workshop routines, post a conference sign-up sheet. Try to meet with students who have signed up as soon as possible. If no one has signed up, move through your roster. (If you’re swamped and unable to do regular conferences for a while, you can take the sign-up sheet down temporarily).
- Keep good records. As long as you know who you’ve seen lately and who you haven’t, you’ll get to all your students eventually. You can fill a record sheet with every student’s name before beginning your newest round of conferences. You can skim the list for blank spaces to determine who still needs a conference.
When Do I Conduct Reading Conferences?
The easiest time is during independent reading time. You can schedule your independent reading time so it includes 5-15 minutes for conferences at the beginning or end. If this isn’t possible for you, try to squeeze in a conference when:
- You finish a guided reading group early.
- You’ve had to cut independent reading short, and won’t be able to do a guided reading group.
- When you’ve noticed a student has finished other work early.
The key is being just prepared enough to spring into action when you have an extra 5-10 minutes.
To Summarize: Reading conferences are a great way to meet individual reading needs, and build rapport with students. If you struggle to find time for conferences, develop a flexible (but structured) plan for conducting conferences whenever you can.
If you’d like help designing a flexible plan, download this free Reading Conference resource. It includes 2 prompt sheets, a sigh-up sheet, a record sheet and more information about incorporating conferences into your reading workshop. It can be viewed as a PDF, or an Editable Google Slides presentation.
